Thai rescue workers are scrambling to prevent a humanitarian disaster, as the worst floods in half a century swamp much of the country, leaving thousands of people stranded.
Nearly 270 have been killed since mid July, after heavy monsoon rains triggered flooding and mudslides.
Thailand's prime minister visited the ancient city of Ayutthaya, 65 miles north of the capital Bangkok, to speak with evacuees who were forced to leave their homes.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI PRIME MINISTER YINGLUCK SHINAWATRA, SAYING:
"We want to urgently rescue and evacuate people. Today the First Region Commander and Army commanders are in the area. We are also trying to protect the industrial zone and people's properties."
The army has announced that three evacuation centres have been set to support 7,000 evacuees in Ayutthaya Province alone.
The country's Commerce Ministry said it had slashed its forecast for the main rice crop from 25 million tonnes to 21 million tonnes because of the flooding.
Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
